Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria her Department uses to determine whether primary care trusts should prescribe Herceptin for early stage breast cancer. [62457]
Ms Rosie Winterton: It is for individual clinicians to decide whether it is suitable to prescribe Herceptin for early breast cancer. Primary care trusts (PCTs) may have to be involved to decide whether to support the clinician's decision and supply the drug at national health service expense.
The National Cancer Research Institute has produced a United Kingdom clinical guideline on the use of Herceptin for early breast cancer. This provides useful information to those considering prescribing Herceptin for this indication in advance of a decision on licensing and the publication of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance. PCTs have been alerted to the availability of these guidelines.
Decisions on funding Herceptin for early stage breast cancer are a matter for local determination within the following parameters set by the Secretary of State for Health:
PCTs should not refuse to fund Herceptin solely on the grounds of its cost; and
PCTs should not rule out treatments on principle but consider individual circumstances.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts are making Herceptin available for early stage breast cancer. [62459]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.
Mr. Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients who participated in the HERA Herceptin adjuvant trial are receiving Herceptin on the NHS. [62460]
Ms Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.
